Singer/songwriter Dave Barnes has a fan in Vince Gill

When one looks into the chief exports of Kosciusko, Miss., pop singer/songwriter Dave Barnes' only real competition is Oprah Winfrey.

"It's a tiny town of only 8,000 people," Barnes said. "It's where Oprah was born, thank you very much, which is the only time my name will ever appear that close to hers."

Barnes, who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., has embarked on a month-plus tour in support of his album "Me & You & the World," the performer's fourth disc, which was released yesterday. He and his opening act, singer/songwriter Andy Davis, will make a stop at the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman for a free concert at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Oklahoma Memorial Union court.

ACCLAIMBarnes is no stranger to the OU campus; thanks to a good friend in Norman, he has made regular stops there to play for college crowds. If the Norman audience acclaim isn't enough to motivate music fans to get off the couch this Thursday night, take the opinion of Grammy-winning Okie country star Vince Gill, a well-publicized fan.

"Yeah, he has said he likes my music," Barnes said, laughing. "And I pay him a lot of money for that quote." "Joe Wertz